Short answer: The Menostar Patient Information says that if you forget to apply a new Menostar patch, apply a new patch as soon as possible. The Instructions for Use add that stopping or forgetting a patch may bring spotting or bleeding, or symptoms may come back. Menostar is a 14 mcg per day patch changed once a week, one patch at a time.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Schedule | One 14 mcg per day patch on the lower abdomen once weekly (2.1) |
| Forgot to apply a new patch | Apply a new patch as soon as possible (Patient Information) |
| After a late change | Not stated |
| Patch fell off | Reapply it elsewhere, or a new patch for the rest of the 7-day interval (2.2) |
| How many at once | Only one patch during each 7-day interval (2.2) |
| Missed or stopped patches | May bring spotting or bleeding, or symptoms may come back (Instructions for Use) |
Patient Information: "If you forget to apply a new MENOSTAR patch, apply a new patch as soon as possible."
Instructions for Use: "If you stop using your MENOSTAR patch or forget to apply a new patch as scheduled, you may have spotting, or bleeding, or your symptoms may come back."
The label does not say whether the next weekly change after a late patch moves or stays on the original day.
Section 2.2: "In the event that a system falls off, reapply it to a different location. If the old system cannot be reapplied, apply a new system for the remainder of the 7-day dosing interval. Wear only one system at any one time during the 7-day dosing interval."
The Instructions for Use say the same in plainer words and add: continue to follow your original application schedule.
Section 2.1 lists one use: prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Menostar delivers 14 mcg of estradiol a day, a lower dose than estradiol patches used for hot flashes. Plain Climara and Vivelle-Dot have their own rules on the estradiol patch page.
This page summarizes FDA labeling. It is not personalized medical advice; confirm what to do with your prescriber or pharmacist.